Never eat meat again.

Just curious, what's wrong with mixing different cows together assuming each cow individually is of high quality?

Did you ever go to Mountainfilm after I saw you? Not each cow is of high quality, as is evidenced by any footage shot at any CAFO, or as seen in the film above. Recalls are now nationwide due to the decreased number of processing plants handling more heads of cattle daily. Add to that the lack of inspectors from the USDA, which has no teeth and the possibilities are wide open.

It's also an issue of scale. When they're processing that much meat all at once from that many animals, and there's one mistake, or one bit of contamination, it can infect vast quantities of meat that then gets shipped all over the country. The obscene scale of how they do it now creates far more widespread illness when something goes wrong, than would happen if done at a more local or regional scale. Same is true with industrial scale production and distribution of fresh fruits and vegetables, and probably lots of other stuff I don't know much about.

Whenever you scale up production of anything, there comes a point at which quality tends to go down. (I know there are exceptions, that's why I said "tends" instead of "always") Which is why people are willing to pay more for all sorts of things that are made at a smaller scale, from cheese and chickens to paintings and furniture and houses.

There was a time when Americans toook pride in manufactured products that "no human hand had touched," and anything mass-produced, store-bought or imported had more prestige than homemade or local items. We were an entire nation of "country come to town." But it seems we've taken all that a little too far, it's out of balance, and we need to get the equation back in balance. IMHO.

Not just meat: 39% of Bagged Salads Have Too Much Fecal Bacteria : TreeHugger

First the soda fountains at fast food restaurants, and now this--Consumer Reports has just published an investigation revealing that 39% of the packaged salads tested contained "bacteria that are common indicators of poor sanitation and fecal contamination." And this despite the fact that such bagged salads often display claims of 'prewashed' or 'triple-washed' and attract customers who consider them cleaner and safer...

Thank you! Mama Scooterbug thinks I am nuts because I want to wash "pre-washed" herbs and greens!

Are you suggesting that two wrongs make a right? If you eat meat you must choose the best route. That is The Omnivore's Dilemma. I agree on the bullet wound thing - it is a sad part of hunting- recall the scene about the stag in The Queen.

I would say this about the question you posted. First, a deer or wild bird at least led its life in freedom - eating grass, acorns, bugs - and lived without hormones or antibiotics. Did you watch the video? No deer or wild turkey is treated that way - no deer has its horns burned out from the inside of its skull without pain killers! No wild turkey (another video) has its beak burned off and is forced by way of hormones to grow so much that it can not stand up (if it could even find room to stand up in those crowded conditions) No deer is kicked around and called a f***er!

Look, if I could blow fairy dust on the world and end ALL SUFFERING for animals and humans I would. But that ain't happening. So, it is up to us to at the very least demand that animals - who give their LIVES for us - be treated as humanely as possible. It is happening. More and more people are thinking of cows, pigs and chicks as animals just like their own dogs. Would we treat our dogs that way? Our horses? People would be sh*tting bricks if this type of treatment was happening to a pack of dogs or cats or horses. (recall the UPROAR over dog fighting and Michael Vick) WHAT is the difference between factory farm animals and our beloved animals? I'll tell you the difference - we want our cake and eat it too! We don't want to vote with our bellies and our cravings. Well, sometimes you just have to. At the very very least share in the outrage, write letters, sign petitions, adopt a diet that has less meat and dairy. At the very least get meat and eggs and dairy from local sources. So we pay a little more. In the long run we pay less - for what is best for the animals is best for us - and from an environmental standpoint factory farming is - well, just read about hog lagoons to start. Madness!!

As I have said before, T Cline started this to make us wakeup when it comes to these cruel practices. We are eating these animals raised this way. Can you imagine drinking milk from a cow in that video? A far cry from the pretty cow pictured in a pasture in dairy commercials.

I hope I answered your question. As you can see, I am very passionate

I'm just pointing out the reality that you're always going wonder if your very survival is the result of some other creature's suffering despite your best efforts.

I mean even the meadow vole is killed during wheat harvest, so yes, there is always death and suffering. But extreme suffering is what we hope to find a way around. It can be done.

There's a concept called conscious eating, which I think is what Gidget means. It is an awareness of the cycle of life and death, predator and prey, fruit becoming food, bugs and bunnies getting stepped on, etc., but that awareness is not accompanied with an attitude of cruelty or disrespect. Rather, with appreciation or gratitude, and respect for the plants and/or animals whose flesh gives us nourishment, and often a givinng back of something, whether prayer, or manmade fertilizer appropriately placed, compost, whatever.

Sorta like what the First Americans are portrayed as having done (and I like to believe it even though I wasn't there to see it with my own eyes) -- living in harmonic balance with nature and environment, taking only what you need and will use, wasting nothing. Turns out it's a really effective method of managing natural resources in a sustainable economy. They were also practicing permaculture based on what I remember of reading in 1491....

In my best moments, I imagine living a life where every step, every breath, every thought is a prayer in motion, set in beauty. One of these days.

You can be a lot more sure about how the animal was treated/killed when you are on a first name basis with the farmer/butcher/hunter and they are held accountable.

Also why the hunters who supply my wild game think people who claim to need an AK-47 and multiple shots to kill something are morons. You are supposed to be close enough to kill it instantly with one shot.

You can be a lot more sure about how the animal was treated/killed when you are on a first name basis with the farmer/butcher/hunter and they are held accountable.

Also why the hunters who supply my wild game think people who claim to need an AK-47 and multiple shots to kill something are morons. You are supposed to be close enough to kill it instantly with one shot.

Think any of your hunter pals would have an interest in selling some venison to me?

They only do family/their own tables (even I only sometimes get sausage to bring back to FL), but I am SO going to light up the sowal cell phone tree if I hit one with the Scootermobile on 30-a or 98! (I play the girl card and only help once it's skinned and gutted).

Cabela's sells game, but it's $$.

Susan, I sent you a PM - did you see it?

Animal Antibiotics a Threat? - CBS News Video

I am REALLY pleased to see this going "main stream"!!!

Well done!!

G

Susan, I sent you a PM - did you see it?

yes, thank you, and pm'd you back ;-)

let's protect organic crops from GMO contamination

Stop Monsanto's GMO Contamination

LOL I JUST emailed you this Monsanto info about 3 minutes ago not realizing you already posted it on forum. We evidently are on same mailing list.

VERY important to be involved in this - I surely don't want GMO's in my organic food! That's one BIG reason I buy organic!

Thanks for posting that Susan.

G

Unsafe conditions prompt 4.9 million pound meat recall | Reuters

Unsafe conditions have prompted a California meat company to recall another 4.9 million lbs of beef and veal, expanding its previous recall to nearly 5.8 million lbs, the Agriculture Department said on Saturday.

Huntington Meat Packing Company - Montebello, California (CA) | Company Profile

This company employs three people. 5.8M/3p

If they only have 3 employees clearly they don't have the resources to ensure a safe product given their volume. But I presume that they have more than three people kicking out all that product but that they are illegals. Just sayin.

They may have only 3 humans working there - part of the issue is automation.

If they only have 3 employees clearly they don't have the resources to ensure a safe product given their volume. But I presume that they have more than three people kicking out all that product but that they are illegals. Just sayin.

I think when you have a small staff of management loyalties are stronger and people are less likely to rat each other out, as they should in certain cases.

CAUTION, THIS INFORMATION WILL HURT YOUR HEART, GRAPHIC HEARTLESS TREATMENT OF ANIMALS .....the next time you browse through the meat sections of your favorite grocery how can you not think about these videos,,,,,,
there is really something wrong with the HUGE DISCONNECT people have in terms of where and how their food products are being made available to them.

Kosher Slaughter | ChooseVeg.com

Theresa, Thank you for posting. Are you veggie? I've been looking for some veggies/vegans in the area. The only restaurants I know of that are fully veggie are Hibiscus House and End of the Line in Pensacola which has a great Sunday Brunch but it's a long way. I hear Sluggos is reopening down there too. Need some resources. Are there any local groups that you know of that are into the cause?

I believe that everyone has a right to choose but I did it for the animals and the disrespect and pain that they endure at the hands of the industry. They say that every vegetarian saves 100-200 animals a year and though the problem will probably not change in our lifetime, it's my way of doing something. So rather than condemn anyone, I'm thankful even if people cut down on meat consumption. I took a 30 day challenge a few years back and after 30 days of not eating meat, I didn't want to go back. Now it's really weird but sometimes the smell of meat actually makes me nauseous and I really don't miss it. My cholesterol dropped to normal and though I'm still not a bone, I lose on average 1- 2 pounds a month without trying.

I didn't watch the movie because I have seen them and they disturb me so badly. I get it. I can't put the images out of mind and I thank you for being brave enough to breach this unpopular but important subject. Hopefully people will educate themselves to the fur industry as well and go faux.

urban microfarm

Little City Gardens: An experiment in the economic viability of urban farming — Kickstarter

I thought folks who have shown interest in this thread might enjoy this little video that a good friend and suburban microfarmer sent me.

great visual!

Shocking Graphic Reveals Why a Big Mac Costs Less Than a Salad ? SpeakEasy

Renee Savary of Twin Oaks Farm posted this on FB recently -- a great short explanation of a lot of what is troubling and troublesome about our food system....

I am a vegetarian, and support many animal welfare organizations, but I think whether we like it or not, people are going to eat meat. I think many animal welfare organizations shoot themselves in the foot when trying to convince people to not eat meat. Like I said, people are going to eat meat regardless, and by showing them videos of how their meat is often produced and saying "see, look how bad it is!" people begin to turn a blind eye and say "Well I don't care, I just like eating meat." I think animal welfare organizations would find better results if they fought for more humane farming practices like outlawing factory farming, instead of focusing on eradicating meat consumption all together. PETA is an organization that I don't take seriously, but I think the ASCPA has it right.

Totally agree!

I am a major carnivore, but I want to eat healthy and humane meat.

PETA is just a bunch of extremist whack jobs IMO and noone takes them seriously as a result. Though they do make for hilarious dinner conversations!

Now I know where to find the beef snuff film.